796.5–MAP/11–2951
Memorandum by the Acting Director for International Security Affairs (Merchant) to the Director of the Office of Military Assistance, Department of Defense (Olmsted)
Subject: Napalm Bombs for the Philippines
Reference is made to your memorandum dated November 21, 1951,1 on the above subject. In the light of that memorandum, the Department of State has reviewed its recommendation contained in the memorandum dated November 9, 1951,2 to which you refer.
While it is correct that the technique of the employment of napalm is properly an exclusively military matter, the Department of State does not agree that, once the use of napalm bombs in the Philippines is approved in principle, all subsequent employment of such bombs is exclusively a subject for military determination. For example, the Department of State does not concur with the view that the selection of a center of Philippine population as a target for napalm bombing would be “entirely a military matter”.
[Page 1589]In view of your memorandum under reference, and taking into account its above-expressed point of view, the Department of State hereby revises numbered paragraph (1) of its memorandum of November 9, 1951, to read as follows:
- “(1) Regarding control of napalm bombs, the Department of State, with the two following understandings, agrees with the procedure outlined in JUSMAG telegram no. 6571:3 (a) whenever the selection of a target affects a center of Philippine population, authorization to use napalm bombs shall have been the prior joint agreement of the Chief of the diplomatic mission and the Chief of JUSMAG and (b) the initial employment of such bombs shall be the subject of prior joint specific agreement between the two cited Chiefs who, after the effects of the initial bombing have been evaluated, will submit a joint recommendation as to whether they consider the procedure outlined in the JUSMAG telegram no. 6571, as amended by understanding (a) above, is adequate to cover subsequent employment of napalm bombs.”
Apart from the foregoing recommended revision, it is the belief of the Department of State that it would be desirable that the JUSMAG furnish the Embassy with reports of each authorized napalm-employing mission carried out by the Philippine armed forces so that the Embassy would be currently and accurately aware of the number, nature, and results of such missions.
The Department of State requests the concurrence of the Department of Defense with the above-proposed modification of the November 9, 1951, memorandum. Also, the Department of State would be pleased to have your agreement with the recommended reporting.